Now available from St Helens-based Rainford Precision Machines Ltd (www.rainfordpreci sion.com) is the Kern Micro Pro five-axis machining centre.

A compact unit that requires less than 4m² of floor space, this machine features an integrated workpiece changer and tool changer, is designed for 24/7 operation and readily achieves “levels of precision well below 5µm when undertaking five-axis machining”.

Contributing to this level of accuracy is the UHPC (Ultra High Performance Concrete) base, which is thermo-symmetrically constructed from a single casting.

With regard to minimising the machine’s footprint, Rainford Precision’s managing director, Arthur Turner, said: “Kern has integrated as many features as possible.

"This includes a tool cabinet for 210 HSK40 tools up to 70mm in diameter; this cabinet also accommodates 30 workpieces up to 200mm high and 350mm in diameter.

This tooling and component storage cabinet is completely modular and can be safely accessed while the machine is running, to minimise production down-time.

“The KERN Micro Pro also has a powerful high-speed 42,000rev/min spindle that can comfortably operate at well over 35,000rev/min without excessive stress on the spindle, making the machine at least 30% more productive than many alternative machining centres.”

A rotary/swivel axis (360 and 200deg respectively) with torque motors provides simultaneous five-axis machining within a 350 x 220 x 250mm work envelope.

Furthermore, Kern has focused on the issue of warm-up times, thereby ensuring that the Micro Pro will achieve high levels of precision with virtually no warm-up period.

There is also permanent collision monitoring of the workspace elements.